UCF Knights Fall to No. 8 Houston Cougars

UCF's three-game winning streak ends with a 79-55 loss to the Cougars

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The UCF Knights' men's basketball team saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday night, as they fell to the No. 8 ranked Houston Cougars by a score of 79-55 at the Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas.

Why it matters

The loss drops UCF to 14-9 on the season, while Houston improves to 19-4. This was an important Big 12 conference matchup, as both teams are vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament later this year.

The details

The Cougars were led by a balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures. UCF was led by guard Themus Fulks, who scored 15 points in the losing effort. The Knights struggled to contain Houston's defense, shooting just 35% from the field for the game.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

Themus Fulks

A guard for the UCF Knights who led the team with 15 points in the loss.

Johnny Dawkins

The head coach of the UCF Knights basketball team.

Mercy Miller

A guard for the Houston Cougars who helped lead their balanced scoring attack.

Kingston Flemings

A guard for the Houston Cougars who also contributed to their offensive production.

Milos Uzan

A guard for the Houston Cougars who played a key role in the team's defensive effort.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must regroup and learn from this loss as we continue our push towards the postseason.”

— Johnny Dawkins, Head Coach, UCF Knights (Imagined quote)

What’s next

UCF will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, while Houston will try to continue their winning ways against the SMU Mustangs.

The takeaway

This loss serves as a reminder that the Knights still have work to do to compete with the top teams in the Big 12, but the season is far from over and they will have opportunities to prove themselves in the weeks ahead.